Hawaii-Themed Restaurant Forced to Close After Accusations of Cultural Appropriation
A Hawaii-themed restaurant owner in Oregon was forced to close down following accusations of cultural appropriation.
Cloud Davidson opened The Hapuna Kahuna Tiki Bar & Kitchen on June 22. He was forced to shut it down just weeks later.
As well as the complaints about the decorations, some grumbled that the venue didn’t sell authentic Hawaiian food.
A local forum on social media, however, was conflicted about the closing. Some questioned whether it was appropriate for cooks who aren’t from a certain culture to make that culture’s food.
Others debated the origins of Tiki culture, claiming it’s merely a mix of tropical influences, including some Asian and Western countries, and can’t be described as “culture”.
I'm Scottish and I want McDonalds to sell only cultural food , what say you Portland ?